The legacy of Michael Steinberg

Michael Steinberg
Michael Steinberg, program annotator for the Minnesota Orchestra.
Photo: Jorja Fleezanis

Music lovers and performers are mourning the loss of Michael Steinberg today. The world-reknowned musicologist died yesterday at the age of 80.

Steinberg lived in Minneapolis, but was known far beyond Minnesota for his work as a music critic and writer. His books, "The Symphony" and "The Concerto," are two indispensable guides to the great pieces of classical music.

For many years, he wrote the program notes for the Minnesota Orchestra where his wife, violinist Jorja Fleezanis, served as concertmaster. His essays on music were known for their well-expressed mixture of intelligent musical insight and real humanity.

Brian Newhouse hosts the Minnesota Orchestra's weekly live broadcasts on Classical Minnesota Public Radio, and he joined Tom Crann to talk about the legacy of Michael Steinberg.

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